As a newbie to solar power, I was worried that this book would be too technical for me, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I bought this book along with another one and this is definately the best for its clear descriptions, level of detail and general readability.
The book gives a lot of practical advice and from the very beginning it is obvious that the author knows what he is talking about. The book covers the subject very well and I feel confident that I will be able to install my off-grid solar electric system easily based on the practical experience shown in this book. The authors web site also provides a lot of really useful information including a superb project calculator that should be the first stop for anyone considering solar power.
Highly recommended. Solar Electricity Handbook - 2011 Edition: A Simple Practical Guide to Solar Energy - Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar Electric Systems
This book is not a handbook and not a "step by step guide". That is pure hype. It is more like an introduction but not a very good one. Buy the book you will learn a little but it is just not what is claimed. This book discusses the author's system, has some tips about obvious things like safety, keeping the system clean, etc., but lacks detail. Important things are left out. For example though the author mentions inverters several times you will wind up knowing little about the application of an inverter. The author says he did not put an inverter in his system but it is the inverter that converts the DC current from the panels to AC for your use. If you get only DC you need DC appliances. Inverters are a major component usually. There is no sense of authority in this book. There is nothing on the author's background either. This author mentions many things but you need more that a mention. To build a solar system you need to make many decisions. To even start to build a system you will need better details on panels and types of inverters, batteries, wiring standards, generator integration, different types and use of voltage controllers, etc. For example, this book says next to nothing about the construction, charging guidelines, characteristics of batteries. Other books and periodicals do. The author mentions different types of panels but mention is about it, little detail. Also 30 of the pages are just charting of solar panel angles at various locations in the U.S., Australia, England and Canada and this is of no real value unless you are in a RV or other mobile situation. You probably would just need the data for your location and that can be found on the internet or easily calculated. There is no glossary. About the term "Handbook". Usually a handbook is a guide with extensive data and methods to get the job done. The book lacks discussion of how the various components work. Showing simple labled blocks with connecting lines is just a start. You need graphs and charts about loads, discharging, overcharging, and so on.
Also there is a lot of empty space in this book, blank pages, partial pages, larger than normal top and bottom margins, spaces between subjects and the type is slightly larger than usually found in most books. The page count is, to me, misleading as to the amount of content.
I love this book! The information is unbiased and to the point. It explains what solar electricity systems are currently available and how they work. It lists the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy components and systems and walks you through how to select, cost, implement and maintain the best system for your needs.
It's associated web site provides nifty calculators which do all the complicated math for you.
It explains electricity and solar electricity so simply and concisely that I am planning to use it to teach my 10 year old daughter about electricity.
This book is a great introductory book for someone thinking about taking on a small to medium size solar project. The book starts from fundamentals and does not assume any prior knowledge. It clearly explains theoretical concepts which are required later to help the designer.
For a solar project to be successful a considerable amount of thinking and planning needs to be done up front. The author leads the reader through the design process and discusses the various options that a designer is presented with. Attempting to make decisions without this information could prove to be very expensive making the book a complete bargain. The book uses the example of a vacation house installation to explain how decisions could be made for a particular project.
In addition to the design and installation guidance, the book includes quite a bit of useful data for the US and UK reader.
- Solar Insulation values
- Latitude and Sun height charts
- Typical Power Consumption figures
In conclusion, the book is an excellent purchase for anyone contemplating taking on a solar electricity project. The information is presented clearly and is well organised. It is not intimidating for the beginner but also provides useful reference information for the more experienced.
I wanted to learn more about photovoltaic panels so I bought this book. I found the book simple and interesting to read with the concepts well explained. As an Architect, I appreciated the thoroughness leading to ready evaluation and possible application to my own projects.
I was a little hesitant about the author being based in the UK with different power systems and a locale different than here in the USA, but he did an admirable job of provding information relevant to both sides of the Atlantic.
Very pleased with this purchase. I certainly recommend it.
D. Thomson
The book is comprehensive and easy to understand. It is suitable for beginners who want to learn about solar system installation and wiring concepts and basic design. People who have technical knowledge will find it very easy to understand. The book should not be called a handbook as it lacks technical and material specifications on solar panels and other necessary equipment and also limited in in-depth design calculation. It essentially provides a basic understanding and practical knowledge for people to start with. - Solar Panels - Battery Chargers - Solar Panel - Solar'
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